Our work at Penrose

Loe Pool

Often simply called ‘The Loe’, Loe Pool is Cornwall’s largest natural lake and is protected from the wild Atlantic by Loe Bar, both of which provide unique wildlife habitats and are designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Loe Pool is especially renowned for its bird population and is a favoured chosen site for over-wintering birds. There have also been increased sightings of otters living in the pool over the last 20 years.

 

Loe Pool Forum

Like a lot of freshwater lakes, it suffers from eutrophication. This is where increased nutrient levels in the water, often from outside sources, cause a change in ecology that can lead to algal blooms.

For 25 years we have been working in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency, South West Water, RNAS Culdrose and tenant farmers as the Loe Pool Forum.

Working together, the forum has delivered a range of practical changes in land management and wastewater treatment that have helped reduce nutrient inputs to the pool by nearly 80%, reducing algal blooms and helping the long-term recovery of the pool.

Find out more about the Loe Pool forum

Mining history on Porkellis Moor

The Rogers family, who kindly gifted Penrose to the National Trust in 1974, bought part of Porkellis Moor in the 1930s. They wanted to close the mines to stop pollution flowing into the River Cober – and into Loe Pool further downstream.

Thanks to support from Natural England, we’ve been able to survey many of these important historical sites, which form part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site.

Tyack’s Engine House

The Tyack's site has an engine house, mineshaft, a smithy, magazine, flat rod trench and a balance bob pit.

Built in 1859, the engine house is a rare surviving example in the Wendron Mining District, at the heart of a once-thriving tin industry. It was used for deep shaft mining of the Tymorgie Lodes and represents an important phase in the development of mining techniques in the area.

Repairing and caring for the site

After surveying the Tyack’s site to understand its history and the repairs needed, building work began.

Teams cleared ivy off the engine house and repointed outbuildings with lime mortar. One of the biggest jobs was to cover the shaft with a metal grid, so that it was safe to remove the old barbed-wire fence.

Now our rangers are keeping the buildings free from ivy and the vegetation under control, so that their history can be seen for years to come.

Restoring the wetlands at Penrose

Working with local conservation groups and volunteers, we're restoring wildlife habitats on the Penrose estate.

Floodwater returns to the Willow Carr

The meandering River Cober was straightened in the 1960s, after concerns about flooding in Helston. This has caused the drying of the wet woodland (Willow Carr) and threatened the wildlife within this rare habitat.

To help, we’ve installed pipes to allow water to flow out of the river and into the drier areas of the Willow Carr. Rangers and volunteers have also built leaky dams made of carefully stacked logs and brash to slow water down, while raised and re-surfaced paths have improved access for walkers.

How can floodwaters help nature?

Holding the water in these floodplain areas longer into the summer creates wetter ground conditions and new habitats. Open-water pools attract spawning amphibians in spring and dragonflies in summer.

We’ve also created new open glades by felling and coppicing trees. Brash and logs piled up here provide new nesting habitats for birds and small mammals, and the open spaces will attract the large populations of bats at Penrose to forage for insects.

The Willow Carr is now a haven for wildlife and a beautiful place to walk.

 

Thank you 

With your ongoing support, we're able to continue our vital conservation work. Thank you for helping to protect these special places.